A cyber-friend send me lots of info on the new more accurate PCR tests
and other things related to my demyelinating peripheral polyneuropathy
that began after viral Encephalitis with involvement of the Brainstem and
CN VII & VIII. Below are 3 that happened to mention TM.
Chris, do you have a comment on the Polymerse Chain Reaction tests on
viral DNA? So far nobody else but me has mentioned them in the GBS
group.
BTW, I agree on a Physiatrist, rehab doc. Also to pace ourselves for max
accomplishment. Sure is a challenge to be a type A personality in a type
B body.
elaine w of So. Calif., USA - elaine.is(AT)Juno.com
<5>
Authors
Shyu WC. Lin JC. Chang BC. Harn HJ. Lee CC. Tsao WL.
Title
Recurrent ascending myelitis: an unusual presentation of herpes simplex
virus type 1 infection.
Source
Annals of Neurology. 34(4):625-7, 1993 Oct.
Abstract
We report on a healthy female with a unique relapsing transverse
myelitis
accompanied by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV -1) infection. Magnetic
resonance imaging showed cord enlargement and increased signal
intensity
on T1-weighted image with gadolinium enhancement from T-4 to T-10
during
the first attack and from C-1 to C-2 during the second episode. She was
not diagnosed during the first attack. During the second episode,
laboratory studies disclosed IgM and IgG antibodies to HSV at the
outset
with greater than fourfold increases in antibody levels in the serum
and
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Cells cultured from the CSF were positive
for
HSV -1 according to the immunofluorescence method. The presence of HVS-1
DNA in CSF was documented by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.
Acyclovir was given with a partial recovery. We anticipate that PCR
assay
of CSF will assist early diagnosis of herpetic central nervous system
disorders.
<1>
Authors
Petereit HF. Bamborschke S. Lanfermann H.
Title
Acute transverse myelitis caused by herpes simplex virus.
Source
European Neurology. 36(1):52-3, 1996.
<2>
Authors
Nakajima H. Furutama D. Kimura F. Shinoda K. Nakagawa T. Shimizu
A.
Ohsawa N.
Title
Herpes simplex virus type 2 infections presenting as brainstem
encephalitis and recurrent myelitis.
Source
Internal Medicine. 34(9):839-42, 1995 Sep.
Abstract
We describe here 3 patients with central nervous system infection
caused
by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV -2); one patient with brainstem
encephalitis and two with recurrent transverse thoracic myelitis. All
three patients showed increased IgG antibodies to HSV in the
cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF). HSV -2 DNA was demonstrated in the CSF by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) amplification. Upon treatment with acyclovir, one
patient
with myelitis partially recovered and the others completely recovered.
It
is important to recognize the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations
of
HSV -2 infection in the central nervous system (CNS).